1. Best Answer: [Deep exhale] What a relief! Thanks, UnLocke, for giving us one of the most satisfying answers we’ve ever gotten from Lost. “The numbers” are a sequence that Jacob assigned to six people from Oceanic 815 — passengers Shephard, Ford, Reyes, Jarrah, Locke and Kwon — who are candidates to replace him as protector of the island. But wait, why those numbers? And why those people? Jin or Sun Kwon? Why isn’t Kate on that list? Protect the island from what? Argh!